Fire-protection signal system.



J. G. NOLEN 6: J. E. SHEPHERD.

FIRE PROTECTION SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.3,1909.

Patented July 18,1911.

In z3'0 Man UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. NO'LENv OF NEW YORK. N. Y AND JOHN E. SHEPHERD, OF CHARLOTTES- VILLE. VIRGINIA, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AUTO- MATIC FIRE PROTECTION COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FIRE-PROTECTION SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1911.

Original application filed April 25. 1904, Serial No. 204,779. Divided and this application filed September 8,

i 1909. Serial NC. 516,031.

Yb c/l Whom it may concern;

Be it lmowdthat we. JAMES G. NoLnN and. Joux E. Sunrnnno, citizens of the Un ted States. respectively residing at. New, York city. in the county of New York and State of New York, and at Charlottesville, in' the county of Albemarle and State of Virginia, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Fire-Protection Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in fire protection signal systems, and contemplates the provision of an electric signaling system particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a tire-extinguisher system and supervisory appliances therefor, shown in our Patent- No. 939,293, dated Nov. 9, 1909, of which this application is a. division.

Our present invention contemplates the provision of suitable circuits-and devices for control by alarm initiators, and for selfcontrol, to occasion the transmission of a signal to a central station upon the operation of the signal initiating devices or trouble in the circuit itself.

In the drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic View, showing schematically an embodiment of our invention; Fig. 2 is a, side elevation with parts broken away of a signal transmitter or master-box; and Fig. 3 1s a detail of a part of said transmitter.

Referring to l ig l, indicates a central battery, preferablylocated in the central station in conjunction with three signaling and recording instruments, 11, 12, and 13. The instrument 11 is arran ed in a round connection, 14, includingthe 'ccntralbattery 10, while the instruments 1% and 13 are arranged directly in a main circuit on the left and right. sides respectively of the battery 10.

i The niain circuit extends from battery 10, by wire 15, to the recording mstrumchtlQ,

and thence through wircs16,-18, and 20, which may include in. series suitable signaltransmitting devices, 1'7 and 1.9 (in the form of ordinary transmission boxes arranged to supervise and to be suitably tripped by any suitable apparatus, not necessary tobc dc scribed). to a lien, 21, ot a uiastcr-box, l, (which said pen has'associatcd therewith an un il, 22, for purposes to be described), from ntlltl pen by wire 23', through the pen and .l eld forward in circuit closin transmitter box, I, by wire 26 to an electromagnet, i, thence by wire 27 to a suitable ordinary transmitting box 28, which might be a manual box, thence by'wire 29 to the recorder 13, and from its terminal by wire 30 back to the battery. A normally closed local shunt or subcircuit is provided around the portion of the main circuit includin the magnet 2', such shunt including wire 31 connected to the anvil 22), the segment h of a pressure gage H, the hand k of said gage, wire 32, one side of one or more crossing thermostats T, the handsb of a second pres sure gage b, the segment 5 of which has connection by wire 33 with the two lower normally immersed olnts of a series of contacts connected wit the thermometer ,a',

wire 34, the armature 35 of an electro-magnet (41), front contacts 36 and. -wire 37 0011- nccted to wire 27. Thus the armature 35' of magnet 41 forms in efi'ecta circuit-breaker,

condition against the tension of its spring Ey the magnet 41 in another independent, local circuit, as long as said magnet is energized. Said iz-idependent local circuit is provided preferably grounded at both ends and extending as follows: from the ground, to a local b.1ttery, 38, by Wire 39, through the second side of the thermostats T, through the coil of the electro-magnet 41,the o posite terminal of which has connection lgy wire ,4-2 to ground at g. v i

, The pressure gages, H and b, are typical of pressure gages such as are associated with risers and pressure tanks of a fire-extinguisher system, the thermometer a, W ical of a temperature registering device or mch system, the boxes 17, 19, and 98 represz-nting any suitabletransmission boxes for manual or automatic 0 erat-ion in association with the line circuit. The thermostat T is typical of. any device tor operation to create a bridgeor cross betwcen the shunt and local circuit wires 32, 39,- ainl other shunting devices may be provided for example, thel'apparatus associated nyth the tire-extinguisher gate-valve G, and high temperature contacts associated with the t'hern'iometer (i. The gate-valve G carries a stem (1" arranged for cooperation with switch contacts 43 and l4 to close the same as anvil24, 25, ot a second signal wheel of said the valve is moved to closed position, such contacts having respective connection by wires 45 and 46 with the local circuit 39 and the shunt31. The two normally exposed high-temperature contacts of the-thern'iometer are connected through Wires 47 and 48 respectively with the wires 34 and 39.

Thus it will be seen that the circuits described provide a main circuit including a source of electrical supply and signalresponsive instruments, the pens, 24, 25, of one s1 'nal wheel and an operating magnet, a; a su circuit arallel to the pdrtion of the main circuit inc uding the operating magnet, 11, such'subcircuit including signal pens, 21, 22, circuit breakers, illustrated'in the form of pressure gages, H and b, and an electrores onsive circuit breaker (85-36) norma 'ly held in closed position by the magnet 40. ,de endent u on operative continuity of a loca indepen ent circuit; and means in the form of thermostats T, gage-valve switches (4344), and the like, for cross connecting the subcircuit and the independent local circuit to establish a ground path which will exclude the magnet 40.

The operating magnet 2' forms the actuating element for the controlling devices of an automatic signal-transmitting box, indicated at I, and com risingspring or other motor 21 which, as s own, includes the pinion z' mounted under the base of the motor and having formed therein two apertures a".

and i diametrically opposed and at different radial distances from the axis of the pinion,

' for c'oiiperation with a bell-crank lever, i

ever moving to intercept the movement of- -the lever 11" of the 'escapement.

projecting e clockwork. The construction of the 'whole is such that the portion ofthelever connected as at a" and havin inturned end fingers 2' and i, arranged or engagement respectively with the perforations z" and 11 of the pinion. The forward end of the lever 2" extends upward and is provided with a horizontal extremity divided to form two prongs i and i, suitably separated and arrangedin ofperative proximity to a stem "5" I th rom the escapement member a in front-of its pivot 41' may be'elevated to\depress finger i into engagement with pertu ration z" of the Wheel to hold the motor mechanism against movement, the prong i at the same time springing in front of the stem 5" to prevent the escapement from opcrating, or the forward portion of the lever 2' may be depressed to raise the lower finger inion, the prong i" at When.

neither of the nger ends i or z'" is inengement with its "JBIfOIfitIOH m the pmion e, that is to say, w on the im erforate ortion of the pinion positions t e levee-a at the middle of its throw,.the stem a may vibrate between the prongs and i".

The armature a" [mutually held in re- (racted )osition by a spring 1' is provided ith a lever arm i extending to and connected to the lever 1'" in front of the pivot and accordingly the train in its normal ndition is held as indicated in Fig.2, that is to say, with the lower finger in engage ment with the perforation It will now be apparent that attraction and maintenance of the armature a" in attracted position will free the signz lling train for a half revolution of the pinion I, 'while attraction and immediate release of the arinatmrc will free the train for a complete revolution of the pinion i I The train is connected to drive two signal wheels 5 and i", which may be mounted on the same shaft, and geared to rotate at twice the s eed of the pinion i Eaclrof the wheels 1s provided with a' toothed por tion and an elevated peripheral portion or elongated tooth, the elevated portion of each wheel being coextensive with and in position corresponding to the toothed portion of the other wheel. The upper wheel 5" has associated therewith the contact device 21 and 22, and the lower wheel'i has associated with .it, contacts 24 and 25 arranged in circuit as above described.

' It will now be apparent that the system stands normall in the position with the armature 35 o magnet 40 closed upon its contact through. the normal segregation of the independent groui'id circuit from the line circuit, and with the magnet z shunted by the low resistance shunt circuit so that it stands practically inert or de'energized. Accordingly, signaling o'erations in the main circuit may be per ormed through the agency of boxes 17, 19, and 28, without disturbance of the automatic transmitter controlled by the operating magnet Should, however, the continuity of the subcircuilt be broken through the operation of the thermbmeter or pl'cssuregage, all of the line current will flowjhrough the magnet i, causing its effective energization, and releasing the transmitter to cause a complete rotation of the signal wheels 2' and 2'. Under these conditions, only the switch cont-acts 24 and 25 are in an energized circuit, so that the signal transmitted will be simply that of the lower wheel, that is to say, the number of the box operated, followed by a long rundown. \Vhen the conditions are so restored that the subcircuit is .again completed, the magnetism of the electro-magnet z will be so reduced thatits armature 1" will be attraded by its spling and the controlling devices of the motor moved to permit another revolution of the number wheel. It will be noted, however, that now the circuit is complete through-both.tl1e subcircuit and the main circuit, so that both pairs of pens of the two signal wheels receive current when closed and the signal transmitted: to the centhe two wheels, namely: thrice repeated. r l t tinder other conditions, for instance, when the valve y/ is' clfosed. o1 a thermostat fuse a erosi isestaliilislied l'ietween the wires 3:) and 32. Under such conditions-rthe current from the battery 38 is partially diverted into the independent ground circuit taking the cross wherever Uta-nun) t'lu "rbeii'euit, and finds its way to the main circuit and thence to the ground t-hroughthe ground connection and back to the battery. B) this diversion of a portion of the current, the magnet 11 is so weiikened that it is unable to hold its armature 35 against the tension of its spring and therefore said arnmtnre is retracted, breaking the snbt-ircuit from contact point 36. Consetplently. the efi'eet of a cross is to break the subeireuit thereby to cause the transmission to the central station. of the ame signal. as when one of the devices inluded in the si'tbeireuit s operated to break the same. Should, however, the short be removed and the circuit restored so that the current of the battery 38 again traverses its normal independent path, the magnet 41 is again energized and closes. the suheircnit accordingly causing: the transmission of the second round of the box to occasion the transnii-sion of the restoration Signal above described. l t a break and make theriostat were employed this result would also follow from its signal initiator.

It will now be apparent that: our system provides for the sending of signals to the central station upon the occurrence of the box number 'ie 1irt-determined abnormal condition andrauses the tran mission of a ditl'erent' signal from the same instrnim-ut upon the restoration of the normal initially prevailing),- condition.

'hile we have herein descri ed in some detail a particular embodinn-nt of our invention. we do not desire to be understood as limiting ourselves to the details shown further than is specified in the claims.

\Vhat we claim is:

nection from said'main circuit, a sub-cirtral stationwill bc thc aggregate signal of cult parallel to a portion of the main circuit, a signal transmitting device having an actuating magnet in the portion of the main circuit paralleled by the sub-circuit, said magnet beii're arrangedto actuate the transmitting, device upon the rupture of the subcircuit, a circuit breaker UL the sub-circuit, an indcpemlent local circuit having a ground connection and including, a source of eleo trit-al supply, a magnet in said independent eireuit controlling the circuit breaker of the sub-circuit, and m'eans t'or establishing a cross between said independent circuit and the sub-circuit.

3. In an alarm system, a main circuit; including a source of electrical supply and a signal res )onsive instrument, a sub-circuitin parallel to a portion of the main circuit, a signal transmitting mountain the sub-cir- ,cuit, operating means for said signal transmitting means comprising an electro-magnet common to both and included in the portion of the main circuit paralleled bv the sub-circuit, a circuit breaker in the sub-circuit, a source of electrical supply therefor, and a means in said'circuit for controlling the action'of the circuit breaker of the sub circuit.

-4. In an alarm system, a main circuit having a ground connection, a source of electrical supply for said circuit, a' signal responsive instrument therein, a sub-circuit parallel to a portion of the main circuit, a signaltransmitter having two sets of instrumentalities, one'arranged to operate on the main circuit and the other on the subcircuit; and electromagnetic actuating device for said transmitter arranged in that portion of the main circuit paralleled by the sub-circuit. a circuit breaker in the submeans for establishing across between said -1. In an alarm system, a main circuit in- I eluding a source of electrical supply, and a. signal responsive instrument: a sub-circuit parallel 'to a portion at the main circuit; a

,jgnal transmitting apparatus having an 2. In an alarm system, a main circuit in t-ludin a source of electrical supply and a signal responsive u1stru'n1ent,a ground conindependent circuit and said sub-circuit.

5. in an alarm system. a main circuit, mcludmg a source of electrical supply and a signal receiving instrument. a sub-circuit in parallel with a portion of the main circuit. a signaling apparatus including two sets of contact members. one set arranged in the main circuit and the other in the SHlZHJlI" cuit. and actuating devices comprising contact controlling mechanism, a magnet and an armature for said magnet: arranged and adapted when moved in either direction to actuate the contact controlling mechanism. said magnet being arranged in that part of the main circuit paralleled by the sub-cir unit and adapted to attract its armature when the sub-circuit is broken and to re lease it; when the sub-circuit is retitablishecl.

6. In an alarm system, a main circuit including a source of electrical supp] and a signal receiving instrument, a su -circuit in parallel to a, portion of the main circuit, an electro-magnet in one of said circuits, at-'- ran ed to be influenced by the breaking or closing of the sub-circuit to vary the position of its armature, a signal transmitter having two sets of signaling instrumentalities one arranged to operate in the main circuit and the other in the sub-circuit, and connections between said signaling instrumentulities and the magnet armature whe're ,tion.

In testimony whereof we hereunto set our hands.

JAMES G. NOLEN. JOHN E. SHEPHERD. itnesses for James G. Nolen:

E..J. SCHAEDLER, F. A. CREAMER. Witnesses for John E. Shepherd:

GEO.'T. MAY, Jr., MARY F. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. 0." 

